The most interesting state in politics

Recently, the Washington Post named Iowa the third most interesting state in politics.

I admittedly wanted to see Illinois higher than #10.

I voted for Blago (once), voted against Ryan, and grew up hearing my Granddad talk about Kerner and Walker.

Four governors go to prison in 40 years.  Here goes..

“Otto Kerner – 1961-1968 – convicted of bribery and tax evasion
Dan Walker – 1973-1977 – bank fraud, misapplication of funds, and perjury
George Ryan – 1999-2003 – corruption and bribery
Rod Blagojovich – 2005-2009 – corruption

Also, if you are looking at the long term, I might want to Louisiana better than #4.

Huey Long, Edwin Edwards, David Duke, Ray Nagin, William Jefferson, Buddy Roemer, The Crook vs The Racist

Still, South Carolina is respectable, and with Alvin Greene and Stephen Colbert in recent years, it is hard to argue.

Iowa should definitely be in the conversation though (having two Senators who are much loved and are as far as to the Right and to the Left as anyone with tenure is speaks volumes as well).

in Iowa, the 2016 election is already on.

Iowa State professor and respected pundit Steffen Schmidt was in the Register last week throwing out his best picks at the next GOP nominee.

Schmidt built on a conversation Chris Matthews had about the 'face' of the Republican Party, which gets most of the big names out of the way (Lindsey Graham, Jindal, Rubio, Boehner, Christie,Ryan, and a rising star named George Prescott Bush- Jeb's son is primed for a big job in Texas maybe Attorney General).

Schmidt's other suggestions-

Jeb Bush- who has been vocal in his feeling that the GOP is scaring off Hispanic voters

Rand Paul- who should be the heir to his father's supporters (Ron won 16 of Iowa's 99 counties)

Rick Santorum- meanwhile, Santorum won 64 of those 99 counties in 2012, while running against Michele Bachmann who 'siphoned' some of the Conservative support.

Kelly Ayotte- Schmidt likes the Senator from New Hampshire.  She may fix the mis-steps the GOP has made with women and Ayotte has got a ot of face time in GOP attacks regarding Susan Rice and Benghazi.

For some reason, my gut keeps telling me that the nominee is some one not mentioned by either Matthews or Schmidt.  Some one who is headed here next month...

Mike Huckabee is headling a "Celebrate Life' event in a Des Moines suburb on February 23.

A post-election poll in November puts Huckabee in the lead among Iowa Republicans- three percentage points over Ryan, Christie, and Rubio.  For some reason, i can't shake that 2016 is his year.

Plastique Valentine (#82 in a series)- Fresh & Onlys

The Plastique Valentine series has touched upon many of the hazards of love.

I have mentioned infidelity, betrayal and venereal disease.

Also, clowns.

Raised on Radio #21- Cowpunk

A series on the songs of my youth have to include some alt-country or Americana (before such terms existed.

Our local radio station (which was very traditional) picked up on Rank & File's "The Conductor Wore Black" and played it constantly.

I can't find any chart info on it, but the album went to #165 in 1982.

For me, I preferred Jason & the Scorchers "White Lies" which was probably my favorite song for a time when it came out in 1985, and I remember MTV playing it quite a bit.

It went to #34 on the Rock chart in 1985 and was followed by "Golden Ball and Chain" which went to 16 on the same chart. Two albums broke the Top 100.

It's still pretty good and a fun video too.